Cable News.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1056, 26 May 1892, Page 31

Cable News.

By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright, (press association.) CHARGES AGAINST A CANADIAN OFFICIAL. Ottawa, May 17. The case brought by the Government to recover from MrPacaud, late Financial Secretary to Mr H. Mercier, formerly Premier of Quebec, the sum of 200,000 dollars in connection with the Baie Chaleur railway contracts, has been dismissed, on the ground that Armstrong, the contractor, had not been sued conjointly, and also because fraud and collusion had not been alleged. DISASTER IN THE CASPIAN. St Petersburg, May 17. The Russian steamer Wolyon has foundered in the Caspian Sea, and 250 persons were drowned. THE FEDERATION MOVEMENT. Melbourne, May 18. In the Legislative Assembly last night, Sir Bryan O’Loughlin expressed pleasure that the Federation movement was dead, and that the late Sir John Robertson’s prophecy had been fulfilled. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. London, May 17. The Morning Post says the general elections will take place at the end of June or early in July. THE A.M.P. ELECTION. Sydney, May 18. Messrs Weeks and Short have been elected to the directorate of the A.M. P. Society. GENERAL BOOTH’S COLONISTS. Adelaide, May 19. Lord Glasgow, in the course of an interview, said that General Booth had informed him that the establishment of a colony in New Zealand was entirely dependent on the terms made with the shipping companies. RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS IN HOT WATER, Sydney, May 19. Mr Wheeler, Minister for Pubic Works, has tabled a notice of motion in the Legislative Assembly for an address to the Governor, praying for the removal of the Railway Commissioners. OUR ATHLETES AT HOME. London, May 18. The New Zealand athletic team will probably compete at the International Athletic Meeting at Paris in J uly. THE COMMERCIAL CONGRESS. London, May 18. Mr Samuel Montagu, M.P. for Whitechapel, will move at the of Chambers of Commerce a resolution favouring the decimals system of coinage. The Agents-General of the British colonies have been invited to become vice-Presidents of the Congress. LOSS OF A CUTTER, Sydney, May 19. The Welcome Home, a cutter with a crew of nine hands, left Sydney in November last for the Kermadec and Norfolk Islands. During December four of the men deserted, and since that nothing has been heard of the vessel. The insurance companies settled all claims in connection with the cutter and cargo to-day. ANOTHER RAILWAY ASSAULT CASE. London, May 18. A curate named Bell has been arrested on separate charges of assault on two young ladies in a railway oarriage on the line near Hungerford. WOMEN’S LIBERAL FEDERATION. London, May 19. At a meeting of the Women’s Liberal Federation, it was decided to endeavour to abolish the artificial barriers to the employment of women in every trade or profession, and to make an attempt to equalise the wages of the sexes. A resolution was also canied expressing a hope that hotels would be closed on Sundays. FIGHTING IN TONQUIN. Hong Kong, May 18. The French have captured a pirate stronghold in T-mqnin, but the attack cost them 180 men, including five officers. LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL LOAN. London, May 19. The loan issued by the London County Council of L 1,200,000, at 24 per cent, has been subscribed over twofold at an average of LB9 3s sd, which is L 3 15s above the minimum. The Council will expend L 1,600,000 on public works. NEW SOUTH WALES AGRICULTUR \L STATISTICS. Sydney, May 20. The Agricultural statistics for the season ending April show a decrease in the area under cultivation of 6341 acres. There is also a decline in wheat growing, the wheat yield being 164 per cent below the average of the past ten years. The total yield was 3,649,216 bushels, being an average of 10 - 95 per acre,

AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION. Melbourne, May 21. Mr Play ford has had a Conference with Mr Shiels, Premier of Victoria, on the same subjects as were discussed with the New South Wales Ministry, and similar decisions were arrived, at. Mr Shiels strongly urged South Australia to again join the Federal Council, and Mr Playford promised to submit the matter to his Cabinet. RETRENCHMENT IN VICTORIA. Melbourne, May 21. The Retrenchment Committee recommends that the Telegraph and Post Office Departments should be reorganised, on a plan calculated to save L 70,000 per annum. It also suggests the amalgamation or the Registrars of Mines and Births and Deaths and the Electoral Department with the Post Office. Melbourne, May 23. The Retrenchment Committee proposes that the Land and Agricultural Departments shall be amalgamated, and suggests the advisability of Victoria and New South Wales maintaining one observatory between them, instead of two separate establishments. A COLONIAL INVESTMENT COM PANY. London, May 20. The Otago and Southland Investment Company’s j’early meeting was held today. The Chairman said enquiries were being made as to the prospects of investing in Cape Colony. A dividend of 6 per cent was declared. AN UNPOPULAR SENTENCE. Paris, May 21. Mr Deacon, the American who shot dead M. Abielle, the French attache at Nice, whom ho found in his wife’s bedroom, has been sentenced to a year s imprisonment. The audience in Court received the sentence with a general tone of dissatisfaction, and the Judge and jury were hissed. Paris, May 22. Deacon, in reply to the Judge, said the murder of M. Abeille was the result of the sudden impulse of a man of honour, and he had regretted that the man had died ever since. This statement was received with loud cheers. He admitted that he had harassed his wife by employing detectives to watch her, but said he had frequently asked her not to receive Abeille. He intended to sue for a clivorcs after the trial. Immense interest was shown in the case, and sympathy for the prisoner was loudly expressed. Mrs Deacon denied the accusation of adultery, but admitted that she had often met Abeille in her husband’s absence. The jury found Deacon guilty of wounding with intent to kill. A TOUGH LAWSUIT. Brisbane, May 22. After a hearing of 52 days, a verdict was returned in the case of the Queensland Investment Company v. Thomas Mcllwraitb, Palmer and others. Thirtysix questions were submitted to the jury, and answers were in nearly all cases in favour of the defendants, and the jury found that the defendants, as directors, made bona fide investments on full and sufficient security, and with full knowledge of the London Board. THE SYDNEY UNEMPLOYED. Sydney, May 23. A deputation waited on the ActingPremier to-day respecting the condition of the unemployed. Mr Barton said that in times of distress like these the magistrates should not be too severe in administering the law because a man stole bread when unable to gat work. The law should be administered fairly, for people must live. Work would be found shortly which would give employment to three thousand men for twelve months or six thousand for six months. FIGHTING IN AFRICA. London, May 23. News from West Africa states that the rising of Jebus is crushed, four hundred being killed. Three British officers and thirty men were wounded. DISASTROUS WRECK OF AN IRONCLAD. Rio de Janiero, May 23. A Brazilian ironclad was wrecked off Cape Polonio, and 120 men drowned. (special.) DESTRUCTIVE EARTHQUAKE. Sr. Petersburg, May 20. By an earthquake in Erivan, in the Caucusus, three villages were destroyed and 26 lives lost. SHIPPING AND COMMERCIAL. Melbourne, May 18. For wheat the demand is brisk at 4s 2d. Oats—Algerian, Is 9id ; prime, 2s 4|d. Flour —Stone makes, L 8 153 to L 9 ; roller brands, L 9 10s. Sailed, yesterday —Wairarapa, for the Bluff; Clara, f r Lyttelton. Arrived Defiance, from Thames ; Vivid, from Greymouth. Melbourne, May 20. Arrived—Talma, from Bluff. Newcastle, May 18. Sailed—Pendlehill, for Napier. Newcastle, May 19. Sailed—Ardle, for Lyttelton. Sydney, May 18. Wheat, 3s 6ch Flour—Stone made,

LlO 15s to Lll ; roller brands, Lll 7s 6d to Lll 15s. Oats—Feed, 2s 4d ; seed, 2s 7d. Maize, market weaker, 2s 8d to 2s lOd. Barley—English, . 3s, nominal ; Cape, 3s 3d. Bran, Is id. Pollard, Is Id. Peas, blue Prussian, 3s 6d to 3s 9d. Potatoes —New Zealand, dull at L2 7s 6d ; Circular Heads, L 3 7a 6d. Onions, L 3 10s to L 3 15s. Butter —Dairy made, lid to Is Id ; factory, Is Id to Is 3d. The article is in go d supply, but dull. There is also a good supply of cheese, which is quoted at scl. For bacon the demand is medium at 5d to 6d, and for hand cured bacon, 6Jd to 7£ • hams, 6d to 9d ; New Zealand cured, 11-ld. Sydney, May 20. Arrived —Waihora, from Auckland. Now Zealand potatoes are difficult of sale at L2 10s. Sydney, May 22. Arrived New Zealand Government steamer Hinemoa, from Wellington, also Union Company’s Hauroto. Adelaide, May IS. Wheat of average quality realises 4s 3id to 4s 4d for large parcels, and from Id to 2d less for small parcels. Oats, quiet at 3s 3d. Barley—Cape, 3s 6d to 3s 9d ; English malting, 4s sd. Bran, Is 2d. Pollard, Is 3d. Hobart, May 21. The returns published by the Government Statist show an increase in the wheat yield of 3,024,984 bushels. Albany, May 21. Arrived—R.M.S. Oriental, from Lon. don. Passengers for New Zealand— Miss Leach and Mr Cooper. London, May 17. There was a large attendance at the Antwerp wool sales, and bidding was brisk, 1650 bales River Plate wool were sold ; 2800 bales were offered at a rise of 15 centimes on superior qualities, 10 centimes on good quality, and 5 and 10 on inferior qualities as compared with previous sales. London, May 18. The total quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 2,832,000 quarters, and for the Continent 1,472,000 quarters. Union Mortgage and Agency Company’s 4j per cent are quoted at 106 ; New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company’s 4 per cent at 93, and New Zealand Trust and Loan Company'’s 5 per cent, cum div, at L 25 10s. S lver has advanced to 3s 5-gd. The American visible supply of wheat is estimated at 44,900,000 bushels. A cargo of wheat by the ship Europa, from Geelong, sold at 37s 10|d. London, May 20. The hemp market is dull, and prices show a decline of 10s. Silver has risen l-16d. The Bank of France has reduced the rate of discount to per cent. The Daily News says \ percent will be accepted for short loans, large sums of money being a drug in the market. London, May 19. The Bank of England returns, published to-day, show the total reserve to be L16,048 ; 000, being an increase of L 632,000 as compared with the previous week. The proportion of reserve to liabilities is 43‘52. Consols 97L New Zealand 4 per cent, inscribed stock, 105 J;; 3J per cent, ditto, 96L New Zealand long-berried wheat is quiet at 38s ; South Australian wheat is weaker at 38s 9d ; Victorian wheat is flat at 38s 3d. Sugar—German beet, 12s 10|-d ; Java, quiet, at 15s 3d. No. 1. Scotch pig iron, f.o.b. in Clyde, 40s 9d. May 20. Canterbury mutton is quoted at per lb, Canterbury lamb at s|d, and New Zealand beef, hindquarters, at 3^d. Otago Harbour Board stock has advanced L2. London, May 21. Arrived Hurunui, ship, from Port Chalmers, February 7 ; Gripen, ship, from Bluff, February 6 ; Asterion, barque, from Nelson, January 23 ; Lutterworth, barque, from Oamaru, February 7. The Antwerp wool sales closed to-day The market was animated, and the rise in good qualities was fully maintained. Inferior sorts were rather neglected. Out of 9700 bales offered 5000 were sold. Nearly all the consignments from Australia were withdrawn. London, May 22. Tallow Medium mutton, 25s 6.1 ; beef, 245. The Engli-h wheat market is steady, the Continental shows a general decline, and the American is firm. For Australian cargoes on passage sellers ask 36s 3d, but buyers are only willing to give 353 9J. For off-coast caigoes sellers want 38s, and buyers offer 37s 6d. For New Zealand off-coast cargoes the selling price is 36s 9d, and buyers offer 6d less. Silver is quoted at 3s 4§d. Rio de Janiero, May 17. The s.s. Ruahine sailed to day for Plymouth. Her cargo of frozen meat w'as reported to be in good condition. (SPECIAL). London, May 18. The Stock Exchange is quiet, and colonial stocks are dull.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited) have received the following London cablegram, dated 20th May, 1892 :—Tallow is dull of sale, and arrivals are heavy. Good beef and fine mutton tallow are worth 25s and 26s 6d per cwt respectively. New Zealand hemp —The market continues drooping ;

medium is w-orth Ll 9 per ton. Frozen meat—The beef market is dull. Quotations have declined |-d per lb, nominally. Mutton market weaker, and the price has declined £d per lb. The lamb market is firmer, and the price has advanced £d per lb.